Vice President Kashim Shettima’s plans to represent Nigeria at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit (CHOGM) in Samoa have been unexpectedly canceled due to an incident involving his plane.
According to an official statement from the Presidency, Shettima’s aircraft was struck by a foreign object while it was making a stopover at John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York. This resulted in damage to the cockpit windscreen, forcing the Vice President to abandon his trip.
The incident occurred on Thursday night, as revealed in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity. The statement titled “Cockpit windscreen of VP Shettima’s plane damaged at JFK airport, ministerial delegation to represent Nigeria at Samoa Commonwealth summit” provided details about the situation.
Shettima had initially departed from Abuja last Sunday, October 20, 2024, en route to Samoa to attend the high-profile summit on behalf of President Bola Tinubu. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, held every two years, brings together leaders from 56 member countries to discuss important global and regional issues.
Onanuga said, “Vice President Kashim Shettima’s trip to Samoa to represent Nigeria at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit has been cancelled after a foreign object hit his plane during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.
“The foreign object damaged the cockpit windscreen of the plane.
“President Tinubu, acting promptly, has approved a ministerial delegation to represent Nigeria at the summit in the Samoa capital of Apia while the plane’s repair has commenced.”
The summit, which began on October 21, 2024, is being held in Apia, the capital of Samoa. It is the first time the Pacific island nation is hosting the prestigious Commonwealth meeting. World leaders, including King Charles of England, are attending the gathering, which runs until October 26, 2024.
The theme of this year’s meeting, “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth,” will focus on the resilience of member nations and how they can work together to create a connected and digital future for the Commonwealth.
During the event, Nigeria, along with other member nations, will participate in the election of the next Commonwealth Secretary-General. Despite Vice President Shettima’s absence, the Nigerian delegation, led by Minister Lawal, is expected to fully engage in the discussions and represent the country’s interests.
